Words by Helen Victoria

Thanks to global movements such as #veganuary (where participants eat a vegan diet for entirety of January) and the glorious power of online trending, veganism has certainly come into the international spotlight in recent years.

With major chains like KFC, Burger King, Pizza Express and Nando’s all climbing on the bandwagon there has never been more choice for those choosing to stick to a plant-based diet. Packing a Tupperware of home-made food to attend a dinner party is no longer necessary – thank goodness!

Celebrities like Russell Brand, Billie Eilish, Alicia Silverstone and Ricky Gervais have joined the vegan masses with regular public statements of its value. It’s safe to say that the vegans are here to stay – and they’re gathering in numbers!

Beyond fashion hype, what is veganism all about?

Essentially, a vegan lifestyle is the avoidance of practices and products that involve any form of harm to a living being. This includes meat, dairy, honey, and leather goods amongst many others. Even the ‘shellac’ in your favourite manicure is made from crushed insects, so it certainly does extend further than the dinner plate!

Some vegans choose this way of living based on ecological beliefs and animal protection values. The common phrase ‘for the animals” is often heard from these ‘types’ of vegans. Others choose a plant-based way of eating for purely health reasons. Although it is a myth that you can lose weight easily on a vegan diet (don’t forget that French fries are technically vegan) it can be very beneficial to adopt a diet higher in protein that is not carcass derived.

Science is also backing some of the claims made about veganism, most of which has been the basis for well-known Netflix documentaries such as ‘Forks Over Knives” and “Cowspiracy”. Studies have shown that consuming milk from other mammals other than our own species can cause higher rates of eczema, diabetes and cancer. Not only that, a plant-based diet has been heralded by many fitness experts as the key to sports development. There are now many Olympic athletes who have identified faster recovery rates and fitness levels from choosing tofu over rib eye, and the numbers increase year on year

There are certainly many advantages to a vegan lifestyle and it has never been as easy as it is now to make the switch. That said, stick to what suits you and your individual needs and feelings. It makes sense to educate yourself on the many options and their implications. But take your time in making choices about how, what and when you eat

For some, becoming a vegan is an overnight decision after an epiphany. For many others, the transition is gradual as they learn new recipes and immerse themselves further in the broad online community. For others, a meat-free Monday is sufficient for now. However you go about things, stay informed and listen carefully to your mind and body.

This is your journey, no one else’s.